The best wireless earbuds of 2026, tested by experts

Read our full review of the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds.

If you don’t want to be bothered by loose or ill-fitting headphones while lifting or on a run, go for a pair that won’t budge. The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 fit snuggly within the ear, but the extra ear hook adds an extra level of security. For iOS users, these connect instantly, but even Android users can benefit from a quick Bluetooth connection, too.

When you’re on the go and want to stay hands-free, the Powerbeats Pro 2 have external controls for answering calls or playing music. Plus, the Powerbeats bring crisp sound that helps you block out sound when you’d rather focus on your workout and not the gym crowd around you. Not to mention, the Powerbeats also include a heart rate monitor for real-time readings.

The Powerbeats Pro have earned a permanent spot in my gym bag. They fit snuggly within the ear and with the ear hooks don’t budge, no matter how sweaty I get or how I move through my workouts. As an iPhone user, they’re a dream to connect, automatically doing so whenever I take them out of the case.

With their noise-cancelling capabilities, they’re able to block out the noise of the gym or the outdoors. But if you want to be able to hear the world around you for safety, you can swap into Transparency Mode. The sound is clear and consistent. Is it the best sound quality I’ve tested? No, but it’s still pretty great.

The on-ear earbud controls are great. The Beats Fit Pro suffered from overly sensitive controls, causing me to accidentally end a call or two. But the controls on the Powerbeats Pro 2 don’t get set off by accidentally brushing them. The battery life on the Powerbeats Pro 2 is incredible, up to 45 hours with the case. I think I went a full month without charging them — even with daily use.

It actually wasn’t love at first wear with the Powerbeats. At first, they’re pretty awkward figuring out how to fit the bud in your ear and then hooking them around. Both my colleague, Bethany Allard, and I tested the Powerbeats and struggled with the learning curve of getting them to fit, and it was a bad first impression of the Beats. While I do like how customizable they are with five different ear tips, navigating their fit is difficult at first.

However, after a few months of use, I realized the Powerbeats Pro 2 became my go-to gym earbud. While other earbuds didn’t sound as good, started to slip out when things got sweaty, or required frequent charging, I always returned the the Powerbeats Pro 2.